(NewsDakota.com/NAFB) – National Pork Board representatives recently met with two of Japan’s largest importers of U.S. pork and one of the country’s top retailers.

NPB says the meetings were a sign of stronger partnerships and trust established in the market. One of Japan’s largest retailers committed to increasing their purchases of U.S. pork, replacing Canadian pork in the meat case. Also, Japanese authorities are lifting COVID-19 restrictions next month, which is expected to boost the country’s economy. The Japanese market has consistently been proven valuable for U.S. pork exports.

In 2022, Japan imported over 534,000 metric tons of American pork, amounting to $1.5 billion, and ended the year as the second-largest value market. The growth of the market can be attributed to its demand for chilled pork and loin products. Japan’s pork demand consists of 62 percent imported products, with the U.S. holding a 24 percent market share in chilled and frozen pork.